Today’s Action: Condemn Trump’s reversal of West Bank policy

The United Nations and the European Union officially use the term Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) to reflect Israel’s 52-year occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, home to 4.4 million Palestinians. And since the 1978 legal decision which declared Israel’s settlements in the West Bank to be “inconsistent with international law,” official United States policy has aligned with that decision (though no president since Jimmy Carter has been willing to use the word “illegal” to describe the settlements, despite international consensus).

However, this decision has not stopped a continuous expansion into the occupied territories, especially under the government of indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has demolished Palestinian homes, restricted Palestinian mobility, denied citizenship, employed excessive force and torture against detainees, and limited access to basic needs like food, water, and healthcare.

Then, last week, Trump reversed four decades of precedent and turned his back on international law, when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared Israeli’s occupation and settlement of Palestinian territory to be legal. In addition to contradicting international law, the move effectively ends any effort toward peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

More than 100 Democrats have signed a letter condemning Trump and Pompeo’s decision to flout international law regarding Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank. If your Members of Congress haven’t signed, call or email them (include the letter) and tell them them to add their support and make a public statement.

This latest move is part of a string of decisions by Trump to support Israel’s right-wing government and court evangelical conservative voters in the States, at the expense of a peaceful two-state solution.

From declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel and moving the U.S. embassy there (West Jerusalem is occupied territory), to cutting $551 million in Palestinian aid in 2018, and shuttering the D.C. offices of the main Palestinian diplomatic arm in the United States, Trump’s every move to support Israel’s extreme right wing leadership has been a slap in the face to international law and peace-talks.

Democrats are speaking out…but the chorus of voices must be stronger if we are to see any decent resolution between Israelis and Palestinians.

Check to see whether your Members of Congress signed the letter from over 100 Democrats, condemning Trump’s violation of international law concerning Israel’s illegal occupation in the West Bank. And if they haven’t, call (202.224.3121) or email to tell them to join the outcry.